My first assignment was in a rural community in Arizona. During my stay in Arizona, I was able to see the Grand Canyon, Lake Havasu, Flagstaff, Phoenix, Scottsdale and Tuscan. The Grand Canyon is simply a must see! I was able to go hiking and I took a water raft ride on a weekend off. In addition to visiting all of these unique cities, I also schedule some time for myself for some R&R in a famous Arizona spa.

My next assignment took me to central California where I spent 9 months. What can I say other than there is so much to see and do in California. Every chance that I had, I drove 2-3 hours and was able to see something new. Being centrally located in the Valley, I was 2 ½ hours from LA, 2-3 hours from the beach if I went West, 2 hours from Tehachapi or Sequoia National Park and I could drive another few hours and make it to San Francisco. What a time I had in California!! And, with my accommodations being covered by my salary as a travel nurse, it was like being on vacation all of the time without the cost.

After California, I moved on to New York. I had always wanted to live in New York but could never dream of being able to afford it, so I had never explored the possibility. The greatest thing about New York and the northeast region of the US is that it is so close to so many other states. During my time off from being a travel nurse, I visited several nearby locations. One weekend I drove through the Connecticut countryside. It is just as beautiful as people say that it is. When I had several days off in a row, I took the 2 hour train down to Baltimore and spent the day walking around the Inner Harbor area. I was also able to see the famous Baltimore aquarium. During my stay as a travel nurse in New York, I was also able to see Philadelphia, Cape Cod, the Hamptons and New Jersey.

I am not sure if I would have ever been able to see all of the places that I was able to see if I had chosen another career path. As I was already living in these areas, my travel costs were minimal, allowing me to experience virtually everything that I wanted to see and do in each new area.

My first assignment was in a small town outside of Kansas City. I was providing OB/GYN services to the small rural community of women. I was staying in great accommodations and was able to travel to see the area on my day’s off. On several occasions, I made my way into the city to have an escape and to meet some new people.

One night when I was eating dinner at a local favourite restaurant with friends, one of my friends had brought someone that they wanted me to meet. Even though at first I was a little upset that my friends were trying to set me up, when I saw Patrick I was very intrigued.

We immediately struck up a casual conversation and continued to enjoy dinner. We followed dinner on our own with coffee and desert at a local diner around the corner and left our initial meeting with the goal to get together again. I did not have my schedule in front of me, but I knew that with only a 2 hour drive, I could certainly make it back into the city to meet him on my next long weekend or my next 2-3 days off in a row.

We started to see each other quite regularly and had formed a great relationship. Patrick knew that I was only scheduled to be in the area for a total of 6 months before I would receive my next assignment. And, while I did have some choices available, it would be unlikely that the next place would be close enough for us to continue our relationship.

So, on a beautiful winter day right before the holiday season and before I was able to get my next round of assignments, Patrick proposed. I immediately accepted and then we spoke about what was next. As a successful business owner in Kansas City, Patrick proposed the idea of me moving to the city permanently and finding a full time nursing opportunity close to his home. I was very excited and so I accepted.

I certainly did not become a travel nurse to meet my future husband, but it could not make me any happier that things had turned out this way. I was able to travel to a new place, to enjoy the surrounding landscapes, I made some great new friends and now I am marrying the man of my dreams. And, this is all because I took a leap of faith and became a travel nurse.

The first travel nursing role that I had was in central Florida where I was providing care to aging adults and the elderly. While I was working in Florida, I was able to see a great part of the state. One of my favourite places to see was the Florida Keys. I had four days off in a row and so I took a drive all of the way down to the Keys. While I was there, I went to see the Hemmingway house and I was able to rent mopeds and drive around the small area of the state.

While I was in Florida, I of course headed to all of the Disney theme parks. I was able to see Walt Disney World, Epcot Center, Animal Kingdom and MGM Studios. I did each of these parks on different days as there are simply so many things to see and do. It was great to be just a few hours away in the car.

My next assignment was all of the way up in Ohio. I was placed in a rural area and was again providing nursing services to aging adults and the elderly. Ohio was a nice change of pace from Florida and I was glad to have new scenery around me and new things to see and do. One of the greatest things about my time in Ohio was that I was able to experience the seasons changing. Living in Texas originally, I was never able to experience a true Fall or a true Winter. So, that was by far my favourite part of living in Ohio. I was also able to see some of the larger cities in Ohio such as Cincinnati Columbus.

These are just two of my favourite spots that I was able to see as a travel nurse. Changing the direction of my career enabled me to have variety in where I was living and in many cases, what I was doing professionally. Living in a new place not only offers new surroundings, but it also gives you the opportunity to meet new people. Once you start moving around, you get the hang of it. And, if you work with an agency that specializes in placing travel nurses, many of the basic tasks of moving are taken care of for you. And, when you move a great deal, this can be a major benefit.

Travel nursing can involve providing nursing services to clients in virtually any location. Rural areas, suburban areas, metropolitan areas and communities that seem to be in the middle of no-where all require medical services and are often searching for the exact services that a travel nurse can provide.

If you are like me, you have stayed away from the concept of travel nursing as you have a family. I used to think, ‘how can I consider a career as a travel nurse when I have kids to worry about?’ But, after I continued to have the desire to travel and have variety in my career, I decided to look into the option more closely.

So after doing some research, I figured out that there is actually a great deal of assistance offered to travel nurses with families. For example, the agency that I work with works to research the school systems and the processes to enrol my children once we change locations. And, they provide me work that coincides with their school schedule. So, I am able to select form available work as a travel nurse that accommodates the needs of my growing family.

By working around my children’s school schedule, I never have to worry about taking them out of school at the least optimal time. So, I can expect to move throughout the school year only 2-3 times. Typically these times are after each semester and during the summer. But, I have the option in many cases to take longer assignments. As my kids get older, I have decided to choose longer assignments that only require me to move once per year so that there is less adjustment required for my children.

My kids are still very small, 4 and 6, and they love to see new places. So, not only have I been able to work in a great career that allows me to achieve my financial goals, but it has allowed me to cater to my family’s needs while I am pursuing it.

While this lifestyle may not appeal to everyone, it has given my children the opportunity to see new places that they would have not otherwise been able to see. It has improved their social skills and ability to adapt which I think are valuable skill sets to possess as an adult. And, it has give me the financial freedom to meet my family’s needs and to save for our future. I wish that I had known about the opportunity earlier as I can only imagine the great locations I would have been able to see and serve.

As the population within the US continues to age, the demand for nurses is on the rise. This growing demand for nurses includes all kinds of specialities, including the travel nurse. The title of this career in itself lends to traveling. Travel nurses can be employed virtually anywhere that houses a population of people; small towns, rural areas and metropolitan cities. The opportunities for travel nurse employment are as unique as the destinations that the jobs are offered within.

Imagine; you could take a month or several months to work as a travel nurse in a completely new state. On your days off, you could spend time touring the surrounding areas. You could spend your weekend in the nearest metropolitan city enjoying the best restaurants, museums and nightlife that it offers. Or, you could take a day trip out of the city to spend time at local wineries or local farmlands. Or, you could splurge and head out for a weekend trip from the city center in which you have found employment. For anyone like me who loves to move around, this can be a fantastic career fit.

The greatest thing about being a travel nurse is that you have flexibility and options. You don’t always have to travel to a new city or a new state to find employment. If after 6 months, 2 months or a year you decide that you would like to permanently settle within a city or area, you could begin to find travel nurse work from that location. In most areas, there are a variety of both urban and rural areas that solicit the services of a travel nurse. You might have to drive a few hours throughout the week to serve your clients, but you will be able to return to the comfort of your own home after a hard day’s work.

You will be sure to find employment at virtually any time. And, you can settle down in the area of your choice. So, if you are looking for innovative and flexible career options, consider not only becoming a nurse, but working as a travel nurse. Or, if you are already a nurse and are looking for a change, consider becoming a travel nurse and see where it takes you. The opportunities are endless; imagine how much fun you will have seeing new places and meeting new people!